I miss the golden leaves of fallAnd my African older brotherThomas Lucius BerkleyHe was a ManAs men ought to beAnd seldom areI do not miss the pain of lifeReplaced in timeWith humility and patience and loveAnd a semblance of wisdomAcross generationsAnd culturesFrom the song of the zentzontleAnd the color of jade

I miss the golden leaves of fallAnd my African older brotherThomas Lucius BerkleyHe was a ManAs men ought to beAnd seldom areI do not miss the pain of lifeReplaced in timeWith humility and patience and loveAnd a semblance of wisdomAcross generationsAnd culturesFrom the song of the zentzontleAnd the color of jadeAnd the enervating perfume of flowersTo Oshima and traditionAnd the land of RashomonTo La Dama de ElcheAnd endless migrationsAcross time and spaceThe Arabs and Jews of SpainThe towers and tears of GranadaOrange blossoms and scentsAndalusiaTauromaquiaJerez de la FronteraThe soul and pride of the SouthUnamuno from the NorthDemanding immortalityErroneous focus on the selfResting in the dreams and madnessOf Don QuijoteAnd nowThe virtual worldOf bits and bytes and quantificationsSecularizations and polarizationsOf populations and civilizationsScience and the coming anarchyAsgard and the runes of knowledgeThe Ice Giant comes tomorrowWho will be here to slay him?

Since 2006, Iowa Writes has featured the work of Iowa-identified writers (whether they have Iowa roots or live here now) and work published by Iowa journals and publishers on The Daily Palette. Iowa Writes features poetry, fiction, or nonfiction twice a week on the Palette.

In November of 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Iowa City, Iowa, the world's third City of Literature, making the community part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Iowa City has joined Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia as UNESCO Cities of Literature.

Find out more about submitting by contacting iowa-writes@uiowa.edu

PHILIP MONDRAG“N

Philip Mondragůn is a graduate of Cornell College in Mount Vernon and has attended the University of Iowa summer writing program. He has lived in Japan, traveled through Spain extensively, and now resides in Mexico City. In his writing Philip seeks to weave together the geographies, cultures, and concerns of all people.